Head-lamp control.



0. SELL. HE'A D LAMP CONTROL.

APPLICATIQN FILED JAN- 26.1916.

Patented Oct. 17,1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

I flaws?- w A TTORNEK lV/TNESS I I i 0. R. SELL. HEAD LAMP CONTROL.

APPLICATION FILED IAN-26,1916.

Patented Oct. 17, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2. I

I I I I I i I WITNESS LVVENYTOR.

- trols, of which the following is a specifica- OTTO It. SELL, OF COLORADO SPRINGS, COLORADO.

HEAD-LAMP CONTROL.

eonseo.

- To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, O'r'ro R. SELL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Colorado Springs, in the county of El Paso and State of Colorado, have invented new and useful Improvements in Head-Lamp Contion.

This invention relates to headlamp controls of that character which, in orderto comply with the trafiic regulations within certain boundaries or city limits, it is necessary to change the direction in which the rays of light are projected from-the lamp so that they will not blind and otherwise con,-

fuse pedestrians and the drivers of other vehicles.

The invention relates particularly to headlamps employing incandescent light producing devices and has special reference to the holding and shifting means for such lamps or sources of light by means of which the focused rays of light may be controlled from.

the operators station in the vehicle upon which the invention is employed.

By means of the invention hereinafter particularly described, the raysof light may be thrown at various angles with respect to a horizontal plane so as to be projected straight ahead for practically illuminating the road way when beyondthe limits and diverted or thrown at a downward angle on the roadway so as to illuminate only a small area or zone directly in front of the machine, the desired result being obtained by a change in the position of the light -producing element in relation to the reflecting surface of the headlamp. v

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel construction, combination andarrangement of parts, as herein described, illustrated and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings:Figure 1 is a diametrical section through the hearing and journal for the lamp support, showing also the tensioning, means. Fig. 2- is a vertical section through a portion of the lamp case,

showing the reflector, the .light producing element and the means for shifting the position thereof, under one embodiment of the invention. Fig. 3 is a section taken on the same line as Fig. 2 showing a modified and somewhat simpler arrangement of lamp shifting mechanism.

Referringto the drawings, A designates what will be hereinafter termed as the lamp Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 17, 1916.

Application filed January 26, 1916. Serial No. 74,430.

support. The main body of this support is cylindrical in shape or round in cross section and under the arrangement shown in Fig. 2, at one end of the body of the support, the latter is provided with an arm A extending substantially at right angles thereto and terminating in an obliquely disposed angular end portion a which is bored to form an eye or receptacle for a lamp socket n which is shown as fastened in place in relation to the part a by means of a screw 6'.

s designates the light producing elemen't shown in the form of an ordinary incandescent electric lamp fitted into the end of the socket member n.

m designates the current wires which lead through an opening 0 in the lamp socket n diametrical or axial bore f in a spherical journal member 6, contained within a bearing a which is cupped or internally concaved.

to conform to the outer surface of the journal as clearly shown in the drawings. The bearing member a is also provided with a flange or flanges f having openings to receive fasteners g by means of which the bearing ads secured to the casing 72 of the lamp containing the reflector 7". One or more of said. screws may be employed as shown'in Figs. 2 and 3 to also fasten to the flange or flanges f a reflector supporting arm 1" to which the reflector r'is fixedly se-' cured in any convenient way.

Threaded pivots 2' are inserted through the bearing a at diametrically opposite points and are threaded into and through the journal member 7) as shown at h. The inner extremities of the pivots i which are shown in the form of screws, are adapted to engage the support A and prevent relative movement in any direction between said lamp support and the spherical journal member I). At the same time the threaded pivots or screws 5 allow the lamp support A to be adjusted toward and away from the reflector so that the lamp 8 may be correspondingly adjusted together with the socket n to allow for the full amplitude of movement of the lamp.

' The bearing a is externally threaded as shown at 3 to receive a presser cap d which The lamp support A passes through a is therefore adjustable in relation to the bearing a. A friction shoe 0 is inserted in one end of the bearing a and is formed with a concaved working face as shown which conforms to the outer surface of the spherical journal member B. Between the friction shoe 0 and the cap 0?, a resilient and expansible member 6 is interposed the same being preferably in .the form of a ring'of rubber or the like, said resilient member serving to hold the shoe 0 in contact with the journal member I) with a pressure which will prevent the journal 6 from turning too freely. The friction shoe 0 is provided with an outwardly flaring opening 9- and the cap cl is also provided with an outwardly flaring opening it both of which flaring openings correspond with the central opening of the resilient member 6 which is also flared. At

the opposite 'side, the bearing ais provided with the flared opening j. All of the openings just referred to provide for the neces: sary amplitude of oscillatory movement of the lamp support A on the pivots e as a center thus enabling the lamp support A and the lamp 3 to be moved to the two extreme limits of movement indicated by full and dotted lines in Figs. 2 and 3;

The nieans for operating the lamp sup-' port isshown for convenience as embodying a rod 'w pivotally connected at t to one end of the lamp support and pivotally connected at its other end to the free extremity of an arm I) on a rock shaft '2 under the control of the operator in his seat in the machine.

Under the arrangement illustrated in Fig. 3 of the drawings, the parts A, a. and b" of Ifig. 2 are dispensed with and the lamp socket a is formed. directly, on one-end of the lamp support A and in fact forms a continuation thereof. The orifice p ofthe refiector 'IFClS located at a relatively higher elevation sotha-t the socket 11. may extend directly therethrough and have the lamp 8 detachably attached thereto, the orifice p being so designed and located-that the lamps may be shifted to either of the two-limits of with greater or less friction on the journal member I) to resist the turning movement of the latter. Additionally, the resilient member 6 when compressed between the cap 03 and the shoe a will slightly bulge at its innal 'member,

neoneso ner edge so as to form a cushion against which the lamp support A will strike and bear when the lamp 8 assumes the ,dotted line position in Figs. 2 and 3. This reduces the liability of the breaking of the lamp by vibrations of too great amplitude.

In whatever position the lamp 8 is adjusted,- it is securely retained by the operation of the friction shoe 0 in. conjunction with the bearing a, theconcaved faces of both of wlnch parts lie in direct contact 7 with the outer surfaceof-the spherical ourstraight ahead, aredeflected and directed downwardly at an angle so as to illuminate only a relatively small zone or area in advance of the-machine.

Having thus described .my invention, I claim 1. Tlie combination with a concaved reflectorhaving an orifice in the body thereof, of a lamp support, a lamp carried thereby and movable upwardly and downwardly within the concavity of the reflector, a spherical journal member formed with an axial bore through which a portion of said lamp support passes, a bearing for said'journal member, threaded pivots inserted through said bearing and journal member coincident with the axis on which the journal member turns, a friction shoe movable within said bearing having a concaved working face in contact with said spherical journal member, tensioning means for said friction shoe, and manually controlled means connected with said lamp support for shifting said lamp.

2. The combination with a concaved reflector having an orifice in the body thereof, ofa lamp support, a lamp carried thereby and movable upwardly and downwardly within the concavity of the reflector, a spherical journal member formed with an axial bore-through which a portion of said lamp support passes, a bearing for said j ourthreaded pivots inserted through said bearing and journal member coincident with they axis on which the journal member turns, said pivots engaging the lamp support at their inner ends, a friction shoe movable within said bearing having a concaved working face in contact with said spherical journal member, tensioning means for said. friction shoe, and manually controlled means connected with said lamp sup port for shifting said lamp.

3. The combination with a concaved renal member, a friction shoe movable within said bearing having a concaved working face in contact with said spherical journal member, tensioning means for said friction shoe embodying a presser cap adjustable in relation to said bearing, and manually controlled means connected with said lamp support for shifting said lamp.

4.- The combination wlthv a concaved reflector having an orifice in the body thereof, I l

. of a lamp support, a lamp carried. thereby and movable upwardly and downwardly within the concavity ofthe reflector,aspherir cal journal member formed with an axial bore through which a portion of said lamp support passes, a bearing for said journal member, a friction shoe movable within said bearing having a concaved working face in contact with said spherical journal member, tensioningmeans for said friction shoe embodying a presser cap adjustable in relation to said-bearing, a resilient and expansible shoe-thrusting member between said friction shoe and cap, and manually controlled means connected with said lamp support for shifting said lamp. I

In testimony whereof I. afix my signature in presence of two witnesses,

OTTO R. SELL. Witnesses: l

GARMA E. Yons,

S. ELLISON. 

